Work begins on West of England’s ‘biggest and most ambitious’ woodland to date

Planning has begun on a major project which could see the planting of the largest woodland in the West of England.

Great Avon Wood will be located near Pensford, a few miles south of Bristol, and will be the size of Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood.

Under the plans, 40,000 native trees will be planted and cared for by volunteers over the next three years.

The ambitious project has been organised by Avon Needs Trees and the Forest of Avon Trust, with the help of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

The plot with link three preexisting woodlands – photo: Avon Needs Trees/Forest of Avon Trust

Dave Wood, director of Avon Needs Trees said the woodland was the “biggest and most ambitious project to date”.

Great Avon Wood will consist of three linked preexisting woodland sites in the hopes of boosting wildlife, reducing flood risk and capturing carbon.

The location was chosen due its position within landscapes that are regionally important for nature’s recovery. Over 30 species of trees will be planted, including hornbeam, oak, willow and alder. All the trees will be provided as saplings by the Woodland Trust.

Avon Needs Trees’ chair, Mark Funnell stressed the importance of the project for future flood defence: “We have seen recently how the region is at risk of flooding. Great Avon Wood will play a role in reducing this risk in the River Avon catchment.

The 100 acre plot in Chew Valley has been earmarked for Great Avon Wood – photo: Avon Needs Trees

“As the new trees grow, their leaves and canopies will help slow the rate that rainfall runs off the land into the River Chew, with long term benefits for local villages and towns. In addition, the new woods will absorb hundreds of tons of carbon per year when they reach maturity, making a significant contribution to the South West’s plans to tackle the climate emergency.”

Avon Needs Trees said the plans would ensure a long-term commitment to the new trees, including an ongoing maintenance and care programme led by volunteers and overseen by the charity.

Buying land is crucial to the project’s success, said Avon Needs Trees. Its key principles – permanence and additionality – means that ownership and legal control are integral to ensure the woodland’s survival.

The importance of sustaining woodlands is even more pressing in light of the recent findings that major council projects to fund tree planting in recent years saw thousands of trees die after councils failed to report the survival rate of their trees.

The 100-acre plot will strengthen the area’s flood defences for the future – photo: Vicki Cracknell

Avon Needs Trees and Forest of Avon Trust are appealing to volunteers to help with the project and local residents are being consulted with to help the woodland creation plans take shape.

WECA mayor Dan Norris said: “We need as many volunteer superheroes as we can to step forward and help us in this endeavour, and so make our amazing Chew Valley an even happier, healthier and more beautiful place to call home”.

Alex Stone, director of the Forest of Avon Trust said: “The Forest of Avon community has its first new woodland base and over 100 acres of wonderful habitat which we hope will give thousands in the region the chance to enjoy it in years to come, whether through helping to plant, enjoying wellbeing activity, walks, talks or keeping up to date remotely.

The major project was awarded funding from The West of England Combined Authority’s Green Recovery Fund and funding for the land purchase was provided through the Forest of Avon Trust through the Trees for Climate Programme. The project also received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Woodland Trust.

A special event will take place on Wednesday, February 22 to name the first area of woodland and to plant an oak tree to celebrate the woodland’s launch.

People can sign up to volunteer at Avon Needs Trees’ website.

Main photo: Susan Barker

Read next:

• ‘Bristolians feel strongly about trees, perhaps its that we keep losing them’
• 16,000 trees to be planted in Bristol in 2023
• Willow trees to be planted as part of new development close to where trees felled

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: